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Horm Metab Res 2014; 46(01): 48-53
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1351291
Humans, Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Altered Chemokine Th1/Th2 Balance in Addison’s Disease: Relationship with Hydrocortisone Dosing and Quality of Life

B. Ekman
1   Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
N. Alstrand
2   Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden
,
M. Bachrach-Lindström
3   Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
M. C. Jenmalm
4   Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Inflammation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
J. Wahlberg
1   Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Endocrinology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 07 May 2013

accepted 04 July 2013

Publication Date:
05 August 2013 (online)

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Abstract

The adrenalitis found in autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) is considered having a Th1-driven pathogenesis. Circulating Th1- and Th2-associated chemokines responsible for the trafficking of leukocytes to inflammatory sites are markers for the Th1/Th2 balance. The aim of the study was to assess if the same daily hydrocortisone dose of 30 mg given in either 2 or 4 doses to patients with AAD could affect the Th1/Th2 balance of circulating chemokines.

Fifteen patients (6 women) with AAD were included in this randomised, placebo controlled, double blind cross-over study. Samples for chemokines, Th1-associated (CXCL10, CXCL11) and Th2-associated (CCL17, CCL22), were drawn 5 times during a 24-h period at the end of each treatment period and analysed with Luminex. Seven control subjects did the same diurnal blood sampling once. Subjects with AAD had higher median diurnal levels of the Th1-associated chemokines than controls, CXCL10 [43 (33–56) pg/ml vs. 22 (19–34) pg/ml, p<0.01] and CXCL11 [37 (29–48) pg/ml vs. 16 (9–24) pg/ml, p<0.001], whereas no significant difference was found regarding the Th2-related chemokines. Similar chemokine levels were found when the same hydrocortisone dose of 30 mg was divided in 2 or 4 doses. Levels of CXCL11 correlated negatively with scores of SF-36 domains (high score indicate better health) of General Health (GH) and total score for Physical Component Summary (PCS), and these negative correlations were most pronounced at 04:00 h on the 2-dose regimen. Patients with AAD have a dominant Th1 chemokine profile that partially correlates to reduced quality of life.

Key words

adrenocortical insufficiency - cortisol - chemokines - autoimmunity
 

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